Descendants Of The Sun Review: When Love Meets the Battlefield

Title: Descendants Of The Sun 

Episodes: 16

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Action 

Main Cast: Song Joong-ki, Song Hye-kyo, Jin Goo, Kim Ji-won

Streaming Platform: Viki, Netflix

Image Credit: Viki

What happens when a soldier with unwavering duty meets a doctor with a heart of gold? Descendants of the Sun is a captivating Kdrama that blends heart-pounding action with heartfelt romance. With stunning locations, emotional depth, and undeniable chemistry, this drama takes you on a journey of love, sacrifice, and courage.

“Descendants of the Sun” is a South Korean television series aired on KBS 2TV from February 24, 2016, to April 22, 2016. Written by Kim Eun-sook and Kim Won-seok and directed by Lee Eung-bok and Baek Sang-hoon, this action-packed rom-com is available to watch on Viki, Netflix, and other streaming platforms.

Plot Summary 

South Korean Army's special forces captain, Yoo Si-jin, and his friend, Master Sergeant Seo Dae-young, catch a thief, Kim Gi-bum, while hanging out off-duty. Soon, Dae-young realizes that Gi-bum has taken his phone, and both of them go to the hospital, where the thief is hospitalized after getting injured in the chase.

At the hospital, Si-jin meets Dr. Kang Mo-yeon, a bold and beautiful cardiothoracic surgeon at Haesung Hospital, and falls in love at first sight with her. Mo-yeon mistakes him as a criminal, but Si-jin proves his identity through Yoon Myung-ju, an army doctor and the daughter of Lieutenant General Yoon.

After getting rejected three times, Si-jin finally wins over Mo-yeon through his lively personality with witty humor, and both of them start dating each other. But their dates are often interrupted by Si-jin's sudden disappearance due to his duty as a soldier. After some time, they decide to part ways due to their conflicting takes on life and the nature of Si-jin's job.

After eight months, Mo-yeon fights with the hospital director due to his inappropriate behavior, and he sends her to Uruk as the leader of a medical volunteer team. After reaching Uruk, Mo-yeon reunites with Si-jin, and after spending more time with him, she confesses her feelings to Si-jin, and both of them start dating again.

In the meantime, Myung-ju gets infected by the M3 virus and nearly escapes death. This incident makes Dae-young let go of his hesitation and love Myung-ju openly, who likes him sincerely despite her father's disapproval.

Both couples continue their relationship after returning to Korea, but soon after Si-jin and Dae-young are assigned a special mission from which only the news of their death returns, while Mo-yeon and Myung-ju mourn for months and months. I request that you check out the drama to know what happens next.

My Thoughts 

The writer has crafted an engaging storyline with well-written characters and brilliant scenes. The cinematography of the show is large-scale, suitable for action-packed military operations, showcasing the dread and emotions on the battlefield. The show takes a deep dive into two professions - medical and military through the heartfelt romance between the lead characters.

The cast selection and their performance were outstanding, serving as the most memorable characters in the Korean drama world. I would love to appreciate the acting of Song Joong-ki, Song Hye-kyo, Jin Goo, and Kim Ji-won for portraying great on-screen chemistry as well as friendly bonds with each other. The side characters like Gi-bum and others(medical staff and military soldiers) left a lasting impression on the audience through their captivating performances.

I loved the adorable romance between Si-jin and Mo-yeon; their every interaction was beautiful with a touch of witty humor. Meanwhile, side couple Dae-young and Myung-ju showed a slow-burning yet bold romance with emotional depth. The action scenes given by Si-jin and Dae-young were the coolest thing in the drama, and their friendship - chef's kiss!

My favorite scene of the drama was when Mo-yeon's secret love confession to Si-jin was accidentally played on the loudspeaker! It was cute and hilarious at the same time, and their reactions were worth watching.

The show successfully depicted the hardships of the soldiers as well as doctors, and how upper management with respected authorities abuses their power for personal benefit. It showed the reality of war, terrorism, as well as natural calamities, and how some parts of the world are deprived due to such situations.

There wasn't a single boring episode in this series, and I enjoyed it till the very end. Also, the ending was SO satisfying to watch, I loved it a lot!

Whether you're a Kdrama newbie or a longtime fan, Descendants of the Sun is a must-watch. Its gripping storyline, emotional highs, and powerful performances remind us why this show became a global sensation. If you're craving a drama with both heart and heroism, this one’s for you.

So what’s your take on Descendants of the Sun? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

If you love action-packed rom-com dramas, check out my review of Crash Landing On You.

My Rating: 9/10